POLICE in Middlewich are keen to stress that the area remains one of the safest places to live - despite a 19% rise in crime.

Latest police figures show that crime is on the up by 19% in Congleton borough - but police say this is because the figures have been calculated in a different way to previous years.

Sergeant Gareth Woods, of Middlewich's Community Action Team, said: 'By changing the way crime is reported it makes a big difference.

'Firstly the 19% rise can be largely accounted for by the change in how crime is actually reported.

'Until recently, if five people were assaulted outside a public house by one person then this would have been recorded as one crime committed by one person - now it would be recorded as five crimes committed by one person.'

He added: 'I am very keen to prevent any alarm and want to prevent the residents of the Congleton borough perceiving that things are all doom and gloom.' He said the work of the CAT teams in Northwich, Middlewich and Winsford and the introduction of two police officers into the Middlewich area have provided residents with a reassuring police presence, and there will be a further increase in the number of officers who are attached to the CAT team in Congleton borough.

'Since the officers have been at the Middlewich station, calls have dramatically reduced,' said Sgt Woods.